1874
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Willows (Les saules) is a 1874 ink by Alphonse Legros, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This sketch shows a tangle of bare willow branches twisted against a light background. The lines are scratchy and uneven, like they were drawn fast with a sharp tool. Some branches lean forward, others sprawl sideways, and a few small clumps of grass peek through at the bottom. The artist used a technique called drypoint, where the lines are carved directly into a metal plate. This leaves a rough edge that holds ink, making the marks look fuzzy and alive. Next, check out technique: drypoint to see how this method works.
Alphonse Legros (French pronunciation: ; 8 May 1837 – 8 December 1911) was a French, later British, painter, etcher, sculptor, and medallist.
See the richer artist pageYour cart is empty
Explore artworks →
